Helicopter collision kills 13 French soldiers who were about to attack jihadists in Mali
The French military has just suffered perhaps one of its heaviest
death tolls in decades with the loss of 13 soldiers when two helicopters
crashed in Mali.
The helicopters apparently collided at low altitude while preparing to attack a group of jihadists, who were being tracked by French commandos, the French general staff said on Tuesday.
All those on board, including six officers and six non-commissioned officers, were killed in the crash, which took place at about 6:40 p.m (1840 GMT). The troops were part of Operation Barkhane, a 4,500-strong French force which backs up local military in the Sahel region against Islamist extremists.
The helicopters apparently collided at low altitude while preparing to attack a group of jihadists, who were being tracked by French commandos, the French general staff said on Tuesday.
All those on board, including six officers and six non-commissioned officers, were killed in the crash, which took place at about 6:40 p.m (1840 GMT). The troops were part of Operation Barkhane, a 4,500-strong French force which backs up local military in the Sahel region against Islamist extremists.
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